Asian Para Games 2026: Baby Sahana Ravi Wins Historic Bronze, Makes India’s Standing Category Debut

India’s Baby Sahana Ravi won a historic bronze medal in the women’s singles Class 9 para table tennis event at the Asian Para Games, securing the country’s first-ever medal in the standing category.

The Tamil Nadu paddler lost 0-3 to China’s Mao Jingdian in the semi-final but secured a place on the podium with the bronze-medal finish.

Hailing from Hosur, Tamil Nadu, Sahana began playing table tennis in 2014 while studying in Class 5.

A year later, the youngster joined Coronation Club under first coach Raj Aravindan Alagar, who helped nurture the passion for the sport.

After completing Class 9, the paddler discontinued regular schooling and continued education through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), dedicating six to eight hours daily to training.

The senior multi-sport debut came at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, followed by a fifth-place finish at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou.

In September 2022, Sahana moved to Chennai’s SDAT-AKG Table Tennis Development Centre, where training continues under Muralidhar Rao, former coach of Achanta Sharath Kamal.

The young athlete later won gold at the 2024 World Abilitysport Youth Games and the 2025 Youth Asian Para Games in Dubai. The family has consistently supported the ambition of becoming a Paralympian.

India’s women’s singles medal tally grew further as Prachi Andhare won bronze in Class 6 after losing 0-3 to Egypt’s Al-Dayyeni in the semi-final.

Earlier, Sonalben Patel secured bronze in Class 3, losing to South Korea’s Yoon Jiyu 7-11, 5-11, 6-11.

Paralympic medallist Bhavina Patel claimed bronze in the women’s singles Class 4-5 after losing 7-11, 5-11, 7-11 to China’s Zhang Bian.

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